The History of Valentine’s Day

From a High Court of Love, to the first love letter originating in the Tower of London on Valentine’s Day, the annual celebration of love has a weird and wonderful story to tell.

9th January 2018

It’s appropriate that early versions of Valentine’s Day started in Rome, one of Italy’s most romantic cities. However, in Ancient Rome, it was the Lupercalia festival – a pagan celebration of fertility – that was celebrated between 13 and 15 February.

The centuries that followed saw a couple of religious figures called Valentine martyred around the same time of year – an occasion that was marked on 14 February every year as St Valentine’s Day. Over time, the purpose of Lupercalia and St Valentine’s Day became mixed up, and Valentine’s Day became a decidedly romantic occasion.

The idea of a day dedicated to love on 14 February became cemented over the centuries. In the 1300s, Chaucer wrote about birds choosing mates on Valentine’s Day. In the 1400s, Charles VI of France established a High Court of Love in Paris on Valentine’s Day, to help resolve disputes between lovers and other affairs of the heart. And closer to home in London, Charles Duke of Orleans wrote the first recorded Valentine’s letter to his lover while imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415.

From the mid-1800s, exchanging letters and cards for Valentine’s Day became the norm, and the Valentine’s Day we recognise today took off. In 1840, the Uniform Penny Post was launched in the UK, meaning Valentine’s cards could be posted by the Victorians for just a penny. So many cards were sent that postmen were allowed extra refreshments during this time of year, due to the extra effort required to get all the cards delivered! By 1871, an astounding 1.2 million cards were processed by the General Post Office in London alone.

Nowadays, it’s estimated around a billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent every year. Jewellery sales in the UK reach an annual high on around 8 February each year, and 10% of all marriage proposals happen on Valentine’s Day itself. According to a survey by Evolution Money, the majority of women hope to be spoiled on Valentine’s Day, with the highest proportion dreaming of being whisked away for a holiday or weekend away.

Given London’s connection with the boom of Valentine’s Day in times past, it’s an ideal destination to spoil a loved one this Valentine’s Day. At The Athenaeum, we have the ultimate romantic treat in store with our Suite Romance in Mayfair package. Enjoy 5-star paradise in one of our lavish suites, kicked off with a bottle of chilled champagne and hand-dipped chocolate strawberries. While you’re in the city, enjoy a night out on the town or dinner at Galvin at The Athenaeum by Michelin-starred chefs, before returning to your room to find rose petals scattered on your bed. To help you get the best of your romantic getaway, enjoy a late check-out at 2pm, make use of our spa and hot tubs, and tuck into a full English breakfast in the morning.

With special thanks to the Victorians, romance in London is alive and kicking!

Private space at The Athenaeum: from intimate meals to impressive events

The Athenaeum has a range of rooms that can accommodate as few as ten guests and up to 100. Our rooms can be used for any of the following occasions, ensuring that even everyday events become exceptional.